Bullpen Blows it for Jackson
By Blake VandeBunte • Apr 7th, 2009 • Category: 2009 Season, Brandon Inge, Brandon Lyon, Edwin Jackson, Miguel Cabrera, Toronto Blue JaysGAME SUMMARY:
- Final Score: Toronto 5 Detroit 4
- WP: BJ Ryan (1-0)
- LP: Brandon Lyon (0-1)
- HR: Scott Rolen (1), Aaron Hill (1), Brandon Inge (2)
And you thought yesterday’s loss was a punch in the throat. The Tigers got a great start, one of the best we will see all year, from Edwin Jackson and they still lost.
Jackson needed only 89 pitches to get through 7.1 innings of baseball. He allowed only two hits and one run and left in a position to win the game. Enter the Tigers bullpen.
Bobby Seay got one out like he was asked to and then came Brandon Lyon. Lyon struggled throughout spring training and lost any claim to the closers position to Fernando Rodney as a result. Here is Lyon’s line:
- 1 inning, 3 hits, 2 walks, 3 runs, 1 loss
It was ugly. This is the guy replacing Todd Jones? He IS Todd Jones!! Lyon was supposed to be a strike-thrower but 20 of his 37 pitches were outside of the strike zone. He also coughed up a home run. He was flat awful.
I was on and off of the phone with my dad throughout the game and we both felt uneasy even though Jackson was cruising. The offense just did not provide enough of a cushion for the Tigers lousy bullpen. We had just seen it too many times last season.
Miguel Cabrera was outstanding, going 2-2 with a pair of walks and a double. Brandon Inge doubled and homered as he continued to swing a hot bat (maybe that new stance is working). Marcus Thames got his first start of the season and responded with an RBI double.
Again, I won’t do the play-by-play here, there a lot of places you can go for that information. The pitching (Jackson) was better than it was yesterday, but we’re all kidding ourselves if we think the bullpen is up to snuff. Here are the positives from the latest Tigers loss:
- Brandon Inge has looked good. His adjustments from the offseason appear to be working as he has showed some serious pop the first two games of the season. Good to see.
- Miguel Cabrera jumped all over a Shawn Camp pitch for a double late in the game and early in the count. Earlier in the game he was able to work the count for a couple of walks.
- Edwin Jackson was the man tonight. At one point he had something like 50 pitches thrown with 40 of them being for strikes. When the Jays tried to be aggressive they would hit into easy outs. When they were patient they tended to strike out. A great start for Jackson and something to build off of.
- Jim Leyland didn’t seem to be afraid to try out some aggressive strategies. He was hitting and running all game long and not always in predictable situations. That was nice to see as well.
The Tigers will go again for their first win tomorrow night in Toronto. Zach Miner will get the start for the Tigers.
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Blake VandeBunte is a posting fiend.
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I thought Todd Jones retired. At least Jones entered to Christian rock. Also, FSN should not show the april in the d commercials after something bad happens in the game. I wanted to find that band and punch them in the face after the 8th inning.
Yeah, I think this year’s song is even more annoying than the one from last season. Ugh.
we’re all kidding ourselves if we think the bullpen is up to snuff.
Well, but we haven’t even seen Perry, or Rodney, and the two lefties have been okay. Lyon seems to be going in the wrong direction, though.